Apparatus for removing wall paper



E. T. LANCASTER.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING WALL PAPER.

' APPLICATION 'nuzn mm]. 1921..

51,428,442. P atentedSept. 5, 1922.'

l/ /a /.s- 30 INVENTbR 57M foflma, ind/4L);

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

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APPARATUS FQJEL IRIEltIOVIbTG VIA-LL14 PAPER;

Application filed February 17', 1921. fierial 1. To. 44.5,7Q2.

To all to ham it may concern Be it known that EDGAR T. LAN-marina Apparatus for Removing Wall Paper, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for removing old wall paper from the wall, and consists mainly in the applying of live saturated steam directly onto the face of the wall paper, thereby destroying the adhesive properties of the paste bctveen the paper and the wall, thus causing the paper to become loosened or disengaged so that it may be easily removed.

The main and particular objects and advantages of my invention, are to provide an efficient, sanitary, and comparatively inexpensive apparatus for removing wall paper. A further object is tomake the ap-v paratus safe to handle and use, and so simple in operation and construction, that but little skill will be required in operating it. Another advantage found in the use of this apparatus is, that all insect vermin on the Walls or in. crevices and cracks in and around the Walls are destroyed, together with their eggs and larva, by exposure to the live steam.

These and other objects and advantages will be clearly understood from the following specification and .drawing of various preferred models of the apparatus, although modifications might be made in these without departing from the scope of my invention.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred model of a portable apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an apparatus for attaching to some available source of steam.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are various modifications of steam spray nozzles for use with the apparatus.

Referring to the several views at the same time, Fig. 1 consists of a portable steam boiler 1 in which the steam is generated, the water in the boiler is heated by a burner 2 located under the boiler. An opening 3 is formed in the boiler shell, which extends downward some distance below the boiler proper, which is indicated by the dotted lined, so as to form a'space in which the burner may be placed. A bottom 5 is riveted handle 13,:1sshown at 20.

to the extended boiler shell and feet 6 are secured on this bottom plate. T he burner 2 is held securely in place by spring snaps" 7, which are riveted to the bottom plate Near the topor dome 8 of the boiler a steam outlet 9-.and a steam valve 10 are placed. To this ulve a flexible hose or tube 11 is attached, the other end of thistubing, which may be of any required length, is attached to apipe 12 which passes through a heat insulatinghandle 18. At the outer end. of the handle 13 a steam valve 14 is fastened on pipe 12. The valve 14.- is of the spring type,- and has a lever 15 which when depressed opens the valve. while normally the valve is closed. Y

To the other end of the valve l t another flexible hose or tube 16 is attached, which connects with asteam spray nozzle 17 This nozzle 17 is 'pivotally held between the pivots 18 riveteo in the two flexible steel arms 19 which are themselves secured to the As the arms 19 are flexible theymay be spread apart so that the steam spray nozzlesl? may be removed and other nozzles substituted. The various nozzles have conical depressions "21 into which'the pivot points 18 enter.

The steamspray nozzles have at each end flanges which have flat sides .23.

These flat sides are plainly shown 'inFig. 1, where they are shown placed against the wall 24. They are also plainly shown in 3. Centrally between these flat sides or faces 23 are located the openings or orifices 31 through Which the steam is sprayed. In Fig. 2 the orifice 31 is shown as a narrow slot extending the whole length of the nozzle. In Fig. 5 the orifices 31 consist of a row of small circular holes, while in Fig. 6 the orifices are narrow slots cut crosswise with the length of the nozzle.

and a handle 28 by which the apparatus may be carried. 29 are ventilating openings for The reason for the different orifices is to provide the burner. Fig. 2 and Fig. 8 only difter from the similar parts on Fig. 1 by having a union or other suitable coupling 30 at the end of the flexible tube 11. The coupling 30 is used for connecting the flexible tube with a steam radiator or other suitable source of steam supply, where such is found in the room or building where the work is to be performed, thus eliminating the use 01" the portable boiler.

The operation and use of the apparatus is as follows :The portable boiler is partly filled with water and the burner lit so as to generate the necessary steam. While the steam is generating the operator selects the suitable steam spray nozzle 17 and by spreading the flexible arms 19 apart inserts the nozzle between the pivots 18 so that these will engage in the conical depressions 21 in the flanges 22. He then attaches the hose 16 to the nozzle. The apparatus is now ready for work as soon as suflicient steam has been generated in the boiler.

The operator grasps the handle 18 and by depressing the valve lever 15 with the thumb, opens valve 1 1, thus allowing the tree passage of steam from the boiler to the nozzle, he next places the flat sides 23 on flanges :22 against the wall 241 near the ceiling and slowly moves the nozzle downward toward the floor. The valve is being held open steam will issue from the nozzle and cause the paper to become loosened from the wall. The nozzle 17 is preferably made somewhat wider than the strips of paper so that one strip may be loosened at a time.

The valve 14; is now closed and the strip of paper removed, the process is then re peated on the next strip, until all the paper is removed. If it is now desired, the opera-- tor may again go over the wall with the nozzle and by forcing the steam into all crevices and openings in and around the wall, destroy any insect vermin which may be found there. It will be noted that during the sliding of the nozzle 17 up or down the wall the flat sides 23 will always be guided against the wall andso cause the sprays of steam, which issue from the orifices 31, to be directed toward the wall. This is made possible by the Way the nozzle 17 is held between the pivots 18 and by the flexible tube 16. i As previously explained, the boiler may be dispensed with and the coupling 30 connected to a steam outlet, when such is available in the room or building where the work is done.

I claim:

In. an apparatus for removing wall paper; a portable steam boiler, having a steam outlet near its top; a main valve attached to said outlet; a flexible hose connecting said mainvalre with one end of an operating handle; the operating handle, consisting of apipe incased in a heat insulating covering, forming part of the steam conduit; a spring operated valve attached to the other end of the operating handle; a flexible hose connecting said spring operated valve with the inlet pipe of a steam spray nozzle; thesteam spray nozzle consisting of a perforated tube, having guide flanges at both ends; sockets formed in said guide flanges; flexible arms, s cured on the operating handle, extending outwardly and forwardly, and having pins secured at their outer ends; and said pins engaging in the sockets in the steam spray nozzle flanges.

Inv testimony whereof, EDGAR T. LANCAS- rnn has signed his name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 145th day of February, 1921.

EDGAR T. LANCASTER.

Witnesses L. M. DYAL, SARAH L. MABRY. 

